Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: Don't own JAG or characters
Classification: Harm, Mac in there along with the others
PG
Summary: More of a family piece. Harm
finds himself in a new role as a surrogate parent for two young
children. Does have a Christmas twist at the end.
"To Make You Feel My Love" written by Bob Dylan.
Thanks to Carolyn for beta reading.
PART 3
***
Nov 9
The next week was incredibly busy as Harm made arrangements for Gabe to attend kindergarten and daycare for Anna and Gabe after school. Harm had borrowed a crib and a twin bed and set them up in his bedroom.
A routine began to be established ending each night with Gabe selecting a book to be read at bedtime, followed by nighttime prayers.
Feeling that the kids seemed somewhat settled, Harm returned to work a few days earlier than he anticipated. The weeks passed quickly as Harm juggled work and caring for the kids.
Grabbing a cup of coffee in the break room, Harm met up with Mac. "How's it going?" Mac blocked his exit. "I don't see you except when you come up for air." She smiled.
Harm shook his head. "At least the Admiral has been supportive. He hasn't said anything about me being late."
"At least, now, you have a reason." Mac raised an eyebrow in jest.
"Cute. Just wait till you're late. I'll tell the Admiral that Jingo had an upset tummy and needed his mommy to stay home." Harm retorted.
"Commander, you have a call from Gabe's kindergarten teacher." Gunny interrupted.
"Daddy duty?" Mac smiled.
Harm just shot her a look and began to quiz Gunny, "Did she say why she called? Gabe's not sick or anything?" Harm looked concerned, as he dialed the number Gunny gave him.
"No, sir, she didn't say."
"This is Commander Rabb. May I speak with Ms. Taylor." After a few minutes, "Commander Rabb, I need to schedule a conference with you this afternoon, if possible, concerning Gabe's behavior."
"I can come anytime after 1400, I mean 2 o'clock."
"That will be fine. I look forward to meeting you, good bye."
Harm sat back in his chair 'Gabe's behavior? Now what?'
*******
"Commander Rabb, I'm Patricia Taylor, Gabe's teacher. I believe we met when you enrolled him a week or so ago." The middle-aged woman smiled warmly.
"Please have a seat... I'll get right to the point. I am aware of the unfortunate circumstances regarding Gabe and that is one reason I felt it best to discuss this with you in person. First off, he is an extremely intelligent young man, probably one of the brightest students I have but ..."
"But?" Harm repeated with a smile.
"He and another student were found fighting on the playground. We don't allow any form of violence at this school." Ms. Taylor explained seriously.
"Do you know what happened?" Harm was surprised, Gabe seemed to enjoy being around other children.
"I'm not sure. Felicity said he just pushed her and that's how the fight began. Gabe wouldn't tell his side." Ms. Taylor continued.
"You mean Gabe was fighting with a girl?" Harm was mortified.
Ms. Taylor tried not to smile, "Commander you haven't met Felicity."
"I know for a fact that his parents would have never condoned that sort of behavior. I will talk with Gabe. I sincerely apologize." Harm shook his head in frustration.
"Commander, take my advice, try to find out his side of the story first. I do appreciate your concern. And Commander, I don't believe he is ready for juvenile court." She added with a smile.
*******
Harm found Gabe sitting on a bench outside the principal's office. The last school bell had rung and most of the children were gone.
Gabe looked down at his feet, refusing to make eye contact, as Harm sat down next to him.
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Harm said evenly.
"I pushed Felicity, and she hit me, so I hit her back." Gabe continued to look at his feet.
"What happened before you pushed her?" Harm continued seriously yet gently.
"She called me a name."
"It must have been a pretty bad name."
"She called me an orphan...What's an orphan?" Gabe looked intently at Harm.
Thinking carefully before responding, he drew in a slow deep breath and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "An orphan is someone who doesn't have parents or a home."
Gabe's eyes flashed in anger, "I do so have parents. They live in heaven!"
"That's right. You will always have your parents in here." Harm patted Gabe over his heart. "Do you want to go talk to them?"
Gabe nodded "Yea.
"Let's go and then I'll show you where I go to talk with my Dad." Harm picked up Gabe's back pack and walked with him towards the door.
"Is your dad in heaven too?"
"Yep... Who is this Felicity?"
******
Nov 14
"Did you apologize to Felicity?" Harm was putting the dinner dishes in the dishwasher. Gabe was still distant but occasionally would let his guard down.
"I tried, but she still called me an orphan. I told her I wasn't allowed to fight."
"That took courage." Harm smiled, not letting Gabe see his expression.
"She said I was a chicken and that her grandpa could beat you up."
"She sounds like one mean woman." Harm held his head down to keep Gabe from seeing him stifle his laughter.
"I told her he could not."
"I'm glad you have confidence in me."
"She said her grandpa was a sicknab...I figured if he was sick he couldn't beat you up."
"Gee thanks...did she say SecNav?" Harm put a dish down and looked at Gabe.
"That's it."
Harm rolled his eyes, "Felicity's last name wouldn't be Nelson?"
"No, but her grandpa's name is Nelson."
****
Nov 23
Gabe was especially wound up when Harm picked Anna and him up, after a frustrating day at work. Harm wished he had taken Mac up on the offer of an aspirin before he left, as his head was pounding.
Gabe pulled at Anna's 'pinkie blanket' causing her to scream.
Having had enough, Harm pulled the SUV over and turned around facing Gabe, "Stop it! If I have to pull over again because you will not stop teasing your sister, I will spank you. Now sit still in the car and be quiet!" Harm threatened.
Gabe's mouth formed a perfect pout as he took the jet he carried everywhere and pretended to ignore Harm. Just as they reached the street where Harm's apartment was located, Gabe reached over and yanked the pink blanket away from Anna, who let out a glass-shattering screech.
Harm forced himself to count to ten and calmly unbuckled Anna from her car seat and held the door open for Gabe to crawl out. Gabe looked at Harm defiantly and pranced into the elevator and then into the apartment.
Harm set Anna on the sofa and turned to Gabe. "Okay, I warned you to stop and you didn't." Harm picked up the stubborn little boy and laid him over his lap, where he proceeded to spank him.
Gabe stood up, arms crossed in front of him, "YOU'RE NOT MY DADDY!" and ran into the bedroom.
"You're right, I could never fill his shoes." Harm stood at the bedroom door and then walked into the kitchen and, tiredly, began preparing dinner.
*******
Harm attempted to make small talk during dinner, only to be ignored as Gabe continued to pout.
The ceiling light blinked off, leaving the room somewhat shadowy. "I better change that light bulb. Gabe, watch your sister." Harm pulled a four-foot stepladder out of a closet, climbed up and began to remove the old bulb.
Everything happened quickly after that. Anna began to fret when she saw Harm climb up the ladder and cried out, "Da Da." Gabe jerked her blanket away in anger and threw it, knocking a glass off of the table.
Anna's sudden shrieking and the glass shattering startled Harm, who jerked around and lost his balance. Unable to catch himself he fell, his head striking the edge of the coffee table and knocking him unconscious.
Gabe stood, terrified, as Anna screamed. Gabe ran over to Harm to see blood flowing from a large gash. "Harm, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Please wake up." Gabe knelt down, gently shaking Harm. "Please don't leave us too."
Picking up the phone, Gabe entered the numbers 911. Anna was crying in fright as the 911 operator picked up, "I need help...Harm fell and is bleeding...I can't wake him up." The frightened voice of a little boy immediately alerted the operator.
"What's your name and how old are you son?" The operator's training kicked in as he worked to calm the child.
"Gabe...Matthews ... I'm almost six." He was able to say between sobs.
"Gabe, are there any other adults in a house or apartment next to yours?"
"No, Sir. Are you coming? Harm's hurt bad." Gabe began to sound panicked.
"Your address came up on my computer screen when you called. An ambulance is on its way."
Gabe hung up the phone before the operator could stop him.
Pressing speed dial number one, the sound of Mac's voice brought new tears. "Hello."
"Mac."
"Gabe, are you all right? Gabe, what's wrong?" Mac responded to the crying little voice on the other end.
"Harm fell off the ladder. He won't wake up...I called 911." Gabe said between sobs. Mac could hear Anna's shrieks in the background.
"Gabe, I'll be right over." Mac fought her own panic and rushed out of her apartment.
****
Mac arrived as an ambulance drove up. Using her key, she let them in to find Gabe holding Anna, both in tears. Harm lay motionless on the floor. The paramedics quickly began to attend to Harm, as Mac comforted the frightened children.
"He's not ... he's not...dead." Gabe clung to Mac. One of the paramedics looked up and responded reassuringly, "No, he's got a real strong heart rate, but we do need to take him to the hospital."
********
Admiral Chegwidden burst through the waiting room doors and headed immediately to the little group on one of the couches.
Mac was holding an exhausted Anna who had her blanket and was sucking her thumb, while Gabe leaned against her, holding her hand.
"How is he?" the Admiral's voice was full of concern.
"A doctor came out earlier and said they were going to do a CAT scan. He still had not regained consciousness." Mac looked at Gabe as she spoke calmly. She felt him tense and his eyes looked fearfully at the Admiral then to her.
"Gabe, we'll know something in a few minutes." She stroked his hair.
"I'll go see what's taking so long." The Admiral walked back into the emergency department where he was intercepted by a nurse.
"Could you tell me the condition of Commander Harm Rabb?"
The nurse smiled, "I was just about to go get his wife. Mr. Rabb is conscious and giving the doctor a hard time about wanting to go home."
The Admiral smiled at both her remarks. "That sounds like him."
The Admiral stood at the treatment room door and listened as the doctor was firmly admonishing Harm, "Mr. Rabb you have a concussion and need to stay at least overnight for observation. You had a nasty fall."
"I need to go home. I have to care for two kids, who are probably scared to death." Harm began to push himself upright.
"Excuse me, doctor. I believe that if the Commander can get up and walk out of here, then he should be released." The Admiral interrupted in a matter of fact tone, with his arms crossed in front of him.
The doctor and nurse stepped back, a little unsure of the Admiral's purpose. Harm continued to push himself up into a sitting position on the gurney, almost falling forward before the doctor caught him. The nurse, meanwhile, grabbed a basin into which the stubborn officer threw up. Harm collapsed back onto the gurney pale and in pain.
"Commander, your plan obviously isn't going to work, so I suggest you follow the doctor's advice and keep your six in bed." The Admiral spoke firmly, as a slightly amused doctor and nurse looked on.
"Commander, the children will be well taken care of, and you do not need to worry about them. But you are right, Gabe is a little shaken up. But I think it would be better for him if you let the doctor and nurse get you settled in a room before he sees you." The Admiral's tone had softened.
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